Flowering Plum

Description:

Flowering Plums grow as tall as 24 to 26 feet tall at maturity in 10 to 15 years. Typically their width will reach 16 to 20 feet. They have a strongly upright habit as young trees, softening with age as many branches develop. Eventually they have a rounder top. On some varieties the twigs have thorns. Flowering Plum trees are among the earliest bloomers in the spring, usually mid to late April. The single or double fragrant flowers appear on the branches in clusters of 2 or 3 before the leaves emerge. Each flower is about ¾ inch wide and depending on the variety, may be white or pink. Blooms on flowering plum trees are fleeting, lasting 4 or 5 days at best. In the fall, small dark fruits, purplish to black in color develop. They are about an inch in diameter and are edible. Some varieties have been bred to produce no fruit. Leaves are oval, tapering at the tips, and are about 2 inches long. They start off red, darkening to a stunning dark purple, sometimes appearing almost black.

Habitat:

Park, Zones 4 through 10